Author Archives: Jeff

Mar 11

Detailed plan for new 30 in Tama County released

Posted on Friday, March 11, 2016, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

When the initial announcement was made about this month’s meeting regarding expansion of US 30 between Tama and IA 21, I noted the text left an opening for leaving existing 30 behind as a frontage road. The map (PDF) does … Continue reading →

Posted in Construction, Tama County | Comments Off on Detailed plan for new 30 in Tama County released
Mar 10

Woodbury County US 20 detour starts Monday

Posted on Thursday, March 10, 2016, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

The calendar catches up with the weather in shifting from “Still Winter” to “Construction” on Monday. US 20 will be closed between Moville and Correctionville until Thanksgiving week. The existing lanes will be destroyed and new lanes built just to … Continue reading →

Posted in Construction | Comments Off on Woodbury County US 20 detour starts Monday
Mar 09

S is for Swan

Posted on Wednesday, March 9, 2016, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

September 30, 2014 The tiny village of Swan (2010 pop. 72) built a school in 1928. Swan is two miles into Marion County off IA 316.

Posted in Schools, Sequences | Comments Off on S is for Swan
Mar 08

Rule of 106

Posted on Tuesday, March 8, 2016, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

In one of its few non-property considerations, the Board accepted the resignation of high school math teacher Terry Stamp and voted to hire Judith Lyons to replace her. Ms. Stamp taught here one year. She asked to be released from … Continue reading →

Posted in Schools, Tama County | Comments Off on Rule of 106
Mar 07

Private schools make up half of 2A boys’ state basketball field

Posted on Monday, March 7, 2016, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

Des Moines Christian joins perennial/semi-perennial state basketball tournament teams Kuemper Catholic (Carroll), Pella Christian, and Western Christian in this year’s Class 2A boys’ bracket. It’s the most private schools in one class in a state tournament since last year’s girls’ basketball … Continue reading →

Posted in Schools, Sports | Comments Off on Private schools make up half of 2A boys’ state basketball field
Mar 04

Former NT coach doing double duty as superintendent

Posted on Friday, March 4, 2016, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

The Boyer Valley and Woodbine districts in far western Iowa are sharing a superintendent to cut down on administration costs. That superintendent is none other than 1998-2001 North Tama football coach and math teacher Doug Gee. In 2014, Gee was … Continue reading →

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Mar 03

T is for Thornton

Posted on Thursday, March 3, 2016, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

July 29, 2010 The Thornton school in all its Art Deco glory met the wrecking ball in April 2012, leaving both a literal and metaphorical empty space in the heart of town. It lives in photos like these.

Posted in Schools, Sequences | Comments Off on T is for Thornton
Mar 02

Chuck Offenburger writes about Diagonal

Posted on Wednesday, March 2, 2016, at 10:04 AM by Jeff

Former “Iowa Boy” Des Moines Register columnist Chuck Offenburger is still a prolific writer and blogger — he wrote a book about Bernie Saggau and the IHSAA in 2005. Recently, he made the trip down to Diagonal to see basketball games … Continue reading →

Posted in Iowa Miscellaneous, Sports | Comments Off on Chuck Offenburger writes about Diagonal
Mar 01

The appointment that never happened

Posted on Tuesday, March 1, 2016, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

December 31, 2015: Dr. Haldy’s dentist office in Traer, on his last official day in business. I was supposed to see my dentist on caucus day. Instead, though, I found out in October that Willard Haldy, Traer’s dentist, planned to … Continue reading →

Posted in Iowa Miscellaneous, Tama County | Comments Off on The appointment that never happened
Feb 29

Meeting about US 30 in Toledo this week

Posted on Monday, February 29, 2016, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

The Iowa DOT will hold a meeting in Toledo on Thursday to discuss the plan to four-lane US 30 in eastern Tama County. It won’t be completed for years, but the first step is acquiring right-of-way. The project statement says … Continue reading →

Posted in Construction, Tama County | Comments Off on Meeting about US 30 in Toledo this week